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Around the Dubois Area.. |
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| Cameron Garnick |
Long time friend and hunting partner, Cameron Garnick, died early last fall, in hunting camp where we spent many elk hunts with him. Cameron and I hunted together 20 years, on the Yellowstone River, Soda Fork, Dunoir, and other areas. Over those years we spent what amounts to months together in the mountains horseback, climbing ridges at sunrise and struggling down again in the dark. Cameron was often the only witness to some of the most memorable elk I've taken, some of best days of hunting, and many of the most memorable times. He was a true character of the West, and every mountain we topped he stopped to view it like it was his first time. He commonly 'tested fate' in countless situations others would avoid, asking me "Where else would you rather die than here in the mountains." Together we survived countless horse wrecks, accidents, and my first marriage. I will never look at the Wyoming high country without thinking of him and our times together. He died on the first hunt last fall, the one I always went with him on. I should have been there with him. I think he would have liked that.
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| WY's big winter reminds me of this AK glacier |
While this photo is of an Alaska glacier, our winter snow's here in WY were very large, with the Teton's getting 600''. Winter wouldn't turn loose and April and May were cold and wet, with near record rainfall, frequent snow down low, and just plain cold weather. When it changed late in June, it really changed, leaving flooding the next fear. It didn't happen, and the rain and snow will give WY much needed water for this season, and fire protection for a long time this summer.
This is the year to come see Wyoming at it's best.
This is the year to come see Wyoming at it's best.
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| Everyone was happy for spring when it came. |
No one could wait for summer and warm weather. It happened all at once, probably caused by the jet stream moving for the summer. We were all happy to see it warm up!
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| One of WY's wolves in Yellowstone Park |
Longhorn's manager Becky Johnson's brother took this photo of one of Wyoming's controversial wolves last month in Yellowstone Park. Most of the residents of Wyoming never wanted the wolves brought back, but they are here in bold number now, and have done 'too well' over the years. Now open to hunting out of the wilderness areas and the Park itself, the wolves continue to create a lot of discussion and disagreement.
The area elk and moose populations appear have suffered dramatically. So much so that we here in Dubois easily see the difference just in the last few years.
Once down to very few numbers, the elk and moose were at one time the subject of successful recovery efforts. It took years and years to bring the numbers back. Somewhere along the line those motivated got tired of loving elk and moose, and pushed to bring wolves back in to the chosen area: Wyoming's high country. At dramatic expense to the once-nurtured elk and moose, we now have a fast growing population of wolves, despite what Wyoming wanted. Elk and moose numbers are now down so much that the Wyoming Game and Fish are reducing the number of hunting permits allowed each year. Since it is now up to the wolves alone to decide their ultimate population, we have most likely just sacrificed populations of two species to see what a unmanaged predator does to things. The recently allowed hunting or shooting of wolves out of the high country will not change wolf numbers over time; shot at once, a wolf won't let it happen again. Very few will be killed and most of them right at the start. The wolves will be quite safe overall.
Most Wyoming residents agree on outsiders efforts; When they release the wolves in THEIR state, then others can have an opinion on wolves.
We have put an animal in Wyoming to kill the other game animals that made Wyoming unique. Personally, I enjoy knowing the wolves are here, and I have always admired the wolf. I'm just afraid it was a very, very bad idea. It in no way recreates an ancient 'balance' that once existed. People have taken over all but the high and hidden wilderness, leaving it as the last refuge for big game animals to live apart from us. There narrowed and confined to those small areas, other game is far too vulnerable to the wolves. It is not the same balance as 200 years ago, and in the end will most likely represent a 'feel good' attempt to mess with things we don't understand. The moose and elk and deer are paying for our romantic dreaming.
The area elk and moose populations appear have suffered dramatically. So much so that we here in Dubois easily see the difference just in the last few years.
Once down to very few numbers, the elk and moose were at one time the subject of successful recovery efforts. It took years and years to bring the numbers back. Somewhere along the line those motivated got tired of loving elk and moose, and pushed to bring wolves back in to the chosen area: Wyoming's high country. At dramatic expense to the once-nurtured elk and moose, we now have a fast growing population of wolves, despite what Wyoming wanted. Elk and moose numbers are now down so much that the Wyoming Game and Fish are reducing the number of hunting permits allowed each year. Since it is now up to the wolves alone to decide their ultimate population, we have most likely just sacrificed populations of two species to see what a unmanaged predator does to things. The recently allowed hunting or shooting of wolves out of the high country will not change wolf numbers over time; shot at once, a wolf won't let it happen again. Very few will be killed and most of them right at the start. The wolves will be quite safe overall.
Most Wyoming residents agree on outsiders efforts; When they release the wolves in THEIR state, then others can have an opinion on wolves.
We have put an animal in Wyoming to kill the other game animals that made Wyoming unique. Personally, I enjoy knowing the wolves are here, and I have always admired the wolf. I'm just afraid it was a very, very bad idea. It in no way recreates an ancient 'balance' that once existed. People have taken over all but the high and hidden wilderness, leaving it as the last refuge for big game animals to live apart from us. There narrowed and confined to those small areas, other game is far too vulnerable to the wolves. It is not the same balance as 200 years ago, and in the end will most likely represent a 'feel good' attempt to mess with things we don't understand. The moose and elk and deer are paying for our romantic dreaming.